#bikeshipping

Bikeflights was represented by four Ambassadors, including Tina Beecham, Jessica Brunson and Diana Hildebrand all in person and Kecia McCullough joining virtually. 

Vice President Sue George also made the trip to the nation’s capital.

Held over three days at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library and on Capitol Hill, the Summit’s energy was overwhelmingly positive. It turns out that now is a good time for bike advocacy. You can see it by simply riding around Washington, DC, where like many other parts of the country, there are increasingly more protected bike lanes, dedicated trails and paths and many other infrastructure improvements that have been proven to increase rider safety, like rumble strips and better lighting and signage.

And the momentum continues with recent infrastructure bills promising more funding to come to states and localities everywhere. Of course, there’s still plenty more work to be done. We were all reminded of a sobering statistic: there’s been a 55% increase in cycling fatalities in the US in the past 10 years.

On opening day, we especially enjoyed the presentation by Veronica O. Davis, author of “Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities.” Davis believes everyone should have access to safe, reliable and affordable transportation, and she shared some of her first-hand experiences creating more such opportunities while working for the City of Houston as the Director of Transportation & Drainage Operations. Davis painted a candid picture of what it’s really like to be on the administrative side of bike advocacy, something useful for bike advocates to better understand as they work with other administrators in similar situations.

Perhaps the most entertaining speaker was Shailen Bhatt, Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). With his witty sense of humor, Bhatt made us laugh, even while sharing info about The Active Transportation Infrastructure & Investment Program (ATIIP) and how the FHWA encourages the implementation of projects and programs to improve safety, equity and accessibility for all road users, especially through Complete Streets Planning.

Another big highlight was getting to see our very own Bikeflights Ambassador Diane Hildebrand receive an award upon being named “Educator of the Year” by the League of American Bicyclists. Congratulations to Diane!

The second – or middle day – of the Summit was what is called “Lobby Day.” That’s when Summit attendees swap out their bike shoes and helmets for business attire and meet with their respective Senators and Representatives or their staff to advocate for bills and initiatives that will create a more bicycling-friendly America. 

As we rode bikes and walked around Washington, we were treated to the sight of blooming cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin and everywhere. Mother Nature may have brought peak bloom a week or two prematurely this year, but her timing worked out to be perfect for us to enjoy.

Our big takeaway from this year’s National Bike Summit is that the most important thing is to simply show up. Again and again. We were reminded by retiring Oregon Senator Earl Blumenauer and Washington Area Bicyclist Association Advocacy Director Jeremiah Lowery that nothing ever happens to make cycling better and safer if no one shows up. 

So while not everyone can take the time or afford the expense of traveling to Washington to lobby their members of Congress for bills that fund cycling infrastructure improvements, there’s a lot we can all do locally…  such as filling out surveys to give rider input about proposed local transportation projects, attending your city or county meetings and getting involved in your local advocacy group.

Mistake 1: Leaving old shipping labels on the box

What it can cost you: your entire trip!

A reused bike box often carries at least one old label with an old barcode, usually several more. Scanners read whichever label they find and that can mean bikes get shipped out, travel for a couple of days and get delivered right back to the address on the old label. This even happens to experienced bike shops, not just casual shippers.

The fix: Remove or completely cover every old label and barcode before you attach your new label. Two minutes spent peeling labels can save a ruined trip and a lot of heartache.

Mistake 2: Using a box that triggers oversize surcharges

What it costs you: up to $330 in a single surcharge.

Carriers charge a Large Package Surcharge when a box exceeds their length + girth size, cubic size OR weight thresholds. For a residential delivery, that surcharge alone can run around $330 at standard retail rates. Many riders grab the biggest box available "to be safe" or stuff the box full of gear and unknowingly cross that line.

The fix: Use the smallest possible box that safely fits your bike and measure it after you pack it. Enter specific dimensions rounded up to the nearest whole number when booking. Booking through a bike shipping service with pre-negotiated rates typically brings a residential bike shipment down to roughly $85 instead.

(Coming this fall: Bikeflights is releasing a new bike box solution designed specifically to stay under the Large Package threshold.) 

Mistake 3: Shipping to an incomplete or wrong address or missing a company name

What it costs you: Approximately $25 per correction, plus days of delay.

A missing apartment, unit or suite number, wrong ZIP, misspelled street or omitted business name means the carrier has to correct the address mid-route. That's about a $25 fee, and your bike sits still while the confusion is sorted out. If you're shipping to a race or event, those lost days could mean you miss the start line.

To avoid additional fees and delays, ensure the address is correct, including any apartment, suite or unit numbers.

The fix: Verify the full destination address before booking (including unit, apartment and suite numbers) and confirm someone will be there to receive it. Shipping to a bike shop, hotel or event? Call ahead so they're expecting it and can store it for you.

Mistake 4: Packing expensive wheels in the same box as your bike

What it costs you: a $3,000–$6,000 wheelset.

Inside a single box, your cassette can gouge your downtube, and your wheels can be crushed against your pedals and frame. Deep-section and disc wheels are especially vulnerable (a disc wheel is essentially thin honeycomb and can easily dent.) Even wheel manufacturers like SRAM say a disc wheel should never be packed with the bike; it needs its own package. 

The fix: Ship high-value wheels in their own wheel box. Using two smaller boxes can cost less than one oversize box (see Mistake 2) and reduces damage risk. On top of that, the smaller boxes will get scanned more often in transit, adding to location data and package tracking.

Mistake 5: Failing to completely remove or cover hazmat labels

What it costs you: a shipment stopped in transit, and possibly destroyed.

E-bikes with lithium-ion batteries can move through the small parcel system and, as long as they’re under size and weight limits, should not display hazardous-materials markings. If those tags are left on, the shipment can be stopped, held and even flagged for destruction while paperwork gets sorted out.

Always completely remove or completely cover hazmat and battery labels, even if you are shipping an e-bike.

The fix: If you're shipping an e-bike, follow the battery and labeling instructions exactly, and completely remove or cover the original hazmat markings on the box. When in doubt, ask before you ship to avoid any potential delays or stoppages in shipping. 

Quick checklist before you ship

Strip every old label and barcode off the box

Verify the complete destination address

Completely remove or completely cover all hazmat labels and markings, even if you’re shipping an e-bike!

Use the smallest safe size box

Photograph box contents and your pro packing job!

Box expensive wheels separately

Confirm e-bike battery is below 30% charged

Measure after packing and round up dimensions

Bike Shipping FAQ

What is the most common bike shipping mistake? Leaving an old shipping label on a reused box. Scanners can read the old barcode and send the bike back to its previous destination.

How much does it cost to ship a bike? It depends on box size, weight, distance and declared value. A standard residential bike shipment booked through Bikeflights typically runs around $85 versus $330+ in oversize surcharges alone at standard retail rates if the box crosses carrier size thresholds.

Should I ship my wheels separately from my bike? Yes, if they're high-value (deep-section carbon or disc wheels). Manufacturers recommend disc wheels always travel in their own container, and two right-sized boxes can cost less than one oversize box.

Can I ship an e-bike? Yes, but to safely ship your e-bike, you must follow important e-bike shipping steps like discharging your battery below 30% and completely removing hazmat labels and markings from your box. Leaving these labels on the box can get the shipment stopped or destroyed.